tracked leaders, hit 3 out, soon ridden and one pace
mid-division, smooth headway to lead after 2 out, ridden after last, kept on
led, headed after 5th, stayed prominent, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on, not pace of winner
keen early, held up towards rear, headway to track leaders 3rd, every chance when hit 5th, led after 3 out, ridden and headed after next, gradually weakened
prominent, led after 5th, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened from next
Divine Gift is a smart recruit to hurdles and can account for Ballyhurry and Beriga in the opener at the Scottish track. Divine Gift would eat these for breakfast on the Flat, being rated in the high nineties, and his form over the past two seasons makes him one of the better Flat recruits to switch codes this term. A very close second to Group-class Blue Monday in last year's Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar, the son of Groom Dancer made all to win a class 2 handicap at Chester in May, and has been highly tried since, turning out in the Royal Hunt Cup, John Smith's Cup and in a race at Ascot that has worked out well. He looks just the sort to follow if taking to the obstacles, and should make a bold bid here under Graham Lee. Although set to carry a penalty here for his success over the course-and-distance in July, Jim Goldie's nine-year-old Ballyhurry has since showed his well being with two fair efforts on the Flat this month. Indeed, the way that he stuck to his task when narrowly beaten by Anthemion at Musselburgh just five days ago suggests that he will relish the return to the winter game. He should have too many guns for the other exposed rivals such as Pearson Glen and Rossin Gold, and can give the selection most to do. Rossin Gold's stablemate Beriga was a winning miler on the Flat in Germany on his last outing two years ago. It is impossible to gauge his fitness though, and he is definitely best watched, with preference for Divine Gift.
Ballyhurry (USA) 3-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, ridden approaching 2 out, headway to lead approaching last, ran on gamely, won at Perth 2m mdn hdl (5) gf in Jul beating Rossclare (10-13) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Divine Gift 13-2 (9-6) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened soon afterwards, last of 6, 7l behind Senor Dali (8-10) at Ascot 1m 2f stk 0-95 (2) gf in Jul (Flat).
Pearson Glen (IRE) 22-1 (10-12) Prominent, every chance 2 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching last, 4th of 13, 15l behind King's Crest (10-12) at Cartmel 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gf in Jul.
Rossin Gold (IRE) 14-1 (10-8) Held up, ridden 3 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 11, 15l behind Supply And Fix (10-4) at Perth 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf.
Beriga (GER) (8-11) Ran on to lead 2f out, won at Dresden 7f stk sft in Oct '04 beating Aristonia (8-11) by 3l, 11 ran (Flat).
Great Jane (FR) 33-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders until ridden and weakened 3 out, 5th of 9, 46l behind It's A Roofer (11-0) at Perth 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gf.
